Mammals

In Brazil’s Baturite Mountains, scientists uncovered a new species of prehensile-tailed porcupine, according to a paper in Revista Nordestina de Biologia. Dubbed, the Baturite porcupine (Coendou baturitensis), the new species was discovered when scientists noticed significant differences between it and its closest relative, the Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis). The name prehensile-tailed refers to these porcupine’s long, mobile tail which they ... Read More »

In November 2013, scientists described the stunning discovery of a new species of wild cat, long-confused with another. Looking at the DNA data of small cats in Brazil, researchers found that the tigrina, also known as the oncilla in Central America is actually two separate species. The new species is called Leopardus guttulus and lives in the Atlantic Forest of ... Read More »